ALBION legend John Wile believes it is vital the club hold on to Jonas Olsson – but he does not blame the Swede for wanting to keep his options open.

WEST Bromwich Albion legend John Wile believes it is vital the club hold on to Jonas Olsson – but he does not blame the Swede for wanting to keep his options open.

Former skipper Wile led the team throughout their glory heydays of 1970s and in terms of playing style Olsson is as close to anything seen at The Hawthorns since Wile was partnering Alistair Robertson in Ron Atkinson’s side.

Wile, now 65 and running his own business, believes Olsson’s retention is key to the club’s chances next season.

“I still watch Albion – although not as often as perhaps I would like to – and it is such a crucial position within the team,” he said.

“It is the fulcrum point really and he plays it very, very well.

“He’s obviously crucial to the set-up of the team. If you look at successful sides then the common denominator is they have

decent central defenders. And he has showed since he arrived how vital the position is.

“Albion, I think, are still looking around to find him the ideal partner and perhaps last season they might have done so.”

Albion not only want to secure Olsson but are also in the market for a forward and they have an interest in Auxerre’s 23-year-old Burkina Faso international Alain Traore.

Olsson has just 12 months left on his contract having arrived four years ago from NEC Nijmegen.

“He has served Albion well. I think the thought process of players has changed now. No-one would ever stop at a club as long as I stopped, or Ally Robertson or Tony Brown. It just wouldn’t happen today for several reasons.

“People tend now to follow pound signs, to be honest. There’s nothing wrong with that because it is a very short career and you’re very soon forgotten.

“I’ve got no reason to say he’s doing the wrong thing. If he can find himself a better contract and subsequently make his life more secure, then he has to do what he has to do.

“If he can do that at the Albion, that’s all well and good. If he has to go elsewhere, then he has to go elsewhere.”

Wile, as chief executive, helped the club bring another fine centre-back to The Hawthorns in 2002 when they picked up Darren Moore from Portsmouth for £750,000 in September 2001.

Moore is now on the coaching staff having gained the same legendary status from supporters that Wile has enjoyed.

“He proved to be an excellent signing,” says Wile proudly.

“If Darren had a couple of yards extra of pace, then West Bromwich Albion would probably not have signed him.

“Jonas is the same. If he had another yard of pace he’d be a really, really top centre-half because he can play, he can head the ball, he can read situations and he has that commitment.

“People talk about the type of football being played now but it is still amazing to see that balls crossed into the penalty area often create goals.

“So you need people to counteract that.

“Even the Spanish have got some very, very good centre-halves who know how to play – but their principal role is to defend.”